BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Jack Scott, Chair
2007-2008 Regular Session
BILL NO: SB 946
AUTHOR: Scott
INTRODUCED: February 23, 2007
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: April 18, 2007
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Kathleen Chavira
SUBJECT : Community Colleges Early Assessment Pilot Program
SUMMARY
This bill establishes for five years, commencing with the
2008-09 academic year, the Community College Early
Assessment Pilot program (CCEAP), to be administered by the
Board of Governors (BOG) of the California Community
Colleges (CCC), for the purpose of providing high school
students with an indicator of their readiness for
college-level English and math.
BACKGROUND
Currently, the California State University (CSU) operates
an Early Assessment Program (EAP); a collaborative effort
among the K-12 schools, the State Board of Education (SBE),
and the California Department of Education (CDE). Under
this EAP, 11th graders taking the California Standards Test
are encouraged to take an "augmented version" of the test
that includes additional English and math questions and a
written essay. The results of the augmented version, once
scored, indicate a students "readiness" for college-level
English and math. Those whose scores indicate they are not
ready, are encouraged to take classes during their senior
year to improve and strengthen their skills. The goal of
the EAP is to have high school graduates enter the CSU
fully-prepared to do college-level work. More than 60
percent of the nearly 40,000 first-time freshmen admitted
to the CSU require remedial education in English,
mathematics or both.
ANALYSIS
This bill establishes for five years, commencing with the
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2008-09 academic year, the Community College Early
Assessment Pilot Program (CCEAP). Specifically it:
1) Modifies the provisions of law governing the release
and uses of the California Standards Tests (CST).
Specifically it:
a) Adds assessment of college
readiness to the purposes for which a pupil (or
his or her parents or guardians) may release
results of the CST to colleges and universities.
b) Authorizes the use of the CST exam
for diagnostic advice for prospective CCC
students.
2) Requires the use of the CSU augmented CST in the CCEAP
and authorizes modification of scoring to measure
"degree-applicable" standards of the CCC.
3) Requires the Chancellor of the CCC to:
a) Work, in coordination with the
department to implement the CCEAP.
b) Select applicant colleges to
participate, as specified.
c) Give priority for the pilot
program to colleges from districts currently
working with or utilizing data from the
California Partnership for Achieving Students
(Cal-Pass).
d) Rely upon the Cal-Pass, as
identified, for collection of augmented CST
results for the purpose of informing development
of curriculum to be implemented in grade 12 to
improve postsecondary education student success.
e) Rely upon the Academic Senate for
the CCC, in cooperation with CSU to develop
enriched grade 12 curriculum in basic skill
development in English and math.
f) Contract with an independent
entity to evaluate the effectiveness of CCEAPP
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and to answer specific questions, with interim
reporting requirements and a final report due by
December 1, 2013, utilizing funds provided in the
Budget Act.
4) Requires the Legislative Analyst's Office to review
the final evaluation report prepared by the Chancellor
contracted entity and make recommendations by February
1, 2014, regarding the future of the CCEAPP.
5) Requires the CCC to work with California Department of
Education and CSU to develop a CCC
student-notification system, which shall ensure that
pupils receive notification regarding their readiness
for transfer-level work, the availability of
enrichment opportunities, and assurance of eligibility
to attend a CCC.
6) Declares legislative intent to provide sufficient
funds for up to 25 colleges and their respective
feeder high schools to participate.
7) Makes a number of other related findings and
declarations.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Fiscal impact . The Assembly Appropriations Committee,
in its analysis of an identical bill last year,
identified costs of approximately $2 million to
implement the pilot program for 5 years and to
complete the required evaluations. The bill proposes
the pilot program and evaluations be funded from funds
provided in the Budget Act. The Governor's proposed
budget does not currently contain funding for this
purpose.
2) Prior legislation . This bill is essentially identical
to SB 1563 (Escutia) which was vetoed by the Governor
in 2006. The Governor's veto message read:
I am concerned about the large number of high school
graduates who enter our colleges and universities
unprepared to do college-level work. However, it would
be redundant to create a new pilot program to assess
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college readiness specifically for prospective
community college students when the California State
University (CSU) already has a system that can be used
for that purpose.
Moreover, there is no need for the California
Community Colleges, in coordination with the CSU, to
develop a special 12th grade curriculum when the state
has taken years to develop curriculum frameworks that
align with our academic content standards. A special
basic skills curriculum is not what is needed,
instead, the state should focus on developing better
strategies for teaching students the existing
curriculum; this is what students will need to have
mastered in order to succeed in college.
SUPPORT
None received.
OPPOSITION
None received.